Sunday 10th March, 2019

Accra, March 9,
GNA - Nathaniel Zewu also known as “SAFOWA”, is an indigenous musician who uses
“Saperewa', a traditional instrument, he learnt to play by himself, to perform
proverbial songs that weaves in stories of love, life struggles and address
social issues as well.

The musician,
who derived his stage name SAFOWA, from ‘’Solid African Feel of West Africa’’
also plays the guitar and sings as well.

The Saperewa
instrument belongs to a class of harp-lutes chordophones historically known as
Sanku, was used to entertain kings by the northern Ghanaian tribes and was
played at palm wine bars and funerals in the 17th century.

In the 19th
century during the British colonial rule, the instrument declined in use as the
guitar was introduced and new chords of musical patterns from Europe entered
Akan areas.

By early 20th
century, as the Akan kingdoms became incorporated into the Gold Coast and
Christianity was introduced by the British missionaries, the Saperewa found its
way into churches, weddings and conferences.

The modern
Saperewa has between 10 to 14 strings set onto a standing bridge, and are
connected to the neck of the instrument by winding them directly.

It is mostly
identified by it square wooden box. Saperewa highlife is the name users call
their style of music.

Safowa was born
July 19th 1988 to Mr and Mrs Zewu, who hails from Asuboi in the Eastern Region
of Ghana. He grew up in Akim Oda, attended St Andrew memorial institute and
Anum senior high all in the Eastern Region.

He said ‘’I
started playing guitar when I found love in instruments from my Sunday school
days. I later evolved and chose a path where many mates would never dare to
thread, which is making indigenous music with an indigenous instrument and am
happy because I am very passionate about what I do as a musician’’.

He said Mr Osei
Korankye, who is the foremost player of the saperewa made his furts Saperewa
for him, but never had time to teach him so he practiced how to play it himself
and have mastered it.

He has recorded
songs titled poverty chain, African woman, united black land and ‘efi’ meaning
dirt, which was to create awareness on filthy surroundings and how to keep the
environment clean.

The musician
who now plays at Elimina for foreigners, performed at the 2017 World Music Day
at Alliance francaisse headlined ‘’fete de la musique’’, the first ever
relationship mixer in Ghana by Kwadwo pinyin, a relationship blogger based in
the United States and currently the world Wildlife Day celebration in Accra.

Mr Samuel Boadi
said ‘’my friend has been all alone so I have decided to help him by getting
him shows for exposure. His style of music is original and his instrument tells
story each time he plays”.

Safowa, said he
was working hard to produce traditional songs that would put Ghana on the
international map and put him on international stages with the likes of King
Ayisoba and Wiyala to promote the Ghanaian traditional instruments and songs.